Thinking on an Anemone...

Hexabob · 01-30-2008, 06:00 PM

I find these facinating creatures and really want one, but have heard horror stories about them fouling tank after going through pump. What if any precautions can you take to prevent this from happening? Another thing is that I understand that they are very mobile and sometimes knock the rocks around. And I guess lastly are they truly worth all the hassle if these things are true. I thought about putting them in the FOWLR I am going to be seeting up soon. Thanks in advance

BigAl07 · 01-30-2008, 06:10 PM

They need very HIGH water quality and a very stable tank. I've never seen one "knock things over" but they are highly mobile when they want to be. They will move around a LOT if they aren't happy with flow and or light. Speaking of light.... they are HIGH light requiring animals. You'll need HIGH light to meet their needs.

One reason why you hear "horror" stories about them is that they have a VERY slow metabolism and can live a good while "seemingly healthy" in less than desirable conditions. Eventually they starve to death and can hose a tank.

To make your tank's pump "Anemone" proof I would imagine some type of overly large "grill" system to that it can't get into the pump and get "shredded".

Even though most LFS's will sell you one at ANY point I think of them as High to Expert level creatures.

BarbMazz · 01-30-2008, 06:12 PM

I would like to have one, too. I've been doing a lot of reading about them. Here's the first things that pop to mind from the reading I've done:

1. need a mature set up, and stable for about a year before considering anemone.
2. stock tank with anemone's comfort in mind as they are very sensitive
3. need high light (metal halides or a LOT of T5's)
4. need very high water quality, and good water movement and flow
5. need to be very, very careful what you keep coral-wise because of allelopathy (chemical warfare). I've found allelopathy a very worthy study!
6. pumps/powerheads/overflows need to be meshed over so anemone won't be sucked in.
7. larger tanks are way better than smaller tanks.
8. if you want a hosting relationship it's better for the anemone to be acclimated and introduced before the clowns. Several weeks or a couple of months will allow the anemone to establish and de-stress before they have the stress of the fish making themselves at home.
9. anemones can live decades. be sure to understand the commitment.
10. preferably one anemone species to a tank; they can and do split in good conditions. These usually will co-exist peacefully.

I recommend Wetwebmedia, Aquarium, Pond, Marine and Freshwater Fish, reef tanks, and Aquatics Information for reading up on anemones. There's a wealth of information there!

BigAl07 · 01-30-2008, 06:18 PM

And they CAN/Do split when stressed or sickly.

Hexabob · 01-30-2008, 06:22 PM

Thank you for the very informative answers. I to have read quite a few articles but wanted to be sure what I read was true, I mean that I have more faith in most of you folks after seeing some of your tanks that some blind faith article. As of today I have 8 more years in the Navy before I am qualified to retire. So maybe I should wait until I settle after all of that. So by large tank you mean that the 72 would be to small? Ok I can wait until I get the bigger one later this summer after I return.

framerguy · 01-30-2008, 06:29 PM

A 72 would be adequate. I don't know if you need to wait 8 YEARS!! though. Did you mean months? One year is long enough LOL. Anemones are very difficult to keep and that's speaking from experience, not a book. They can be very frustrating wandering around like they do. They hardly ever stay where you want them. Get some experience under your belt before getting one.

reefman420 · 01-30-2008, 07:07 PM

everything said here is true,they are very hi light animals,metal halide or t5,And they can foul a tank pretty bad even if they just decompose in the water,That being said i have two,A rbta,and a seabae and they are doing great

Hexabob · 01-30-2008, 07:16 PM

No 8 years until I will totally settle. Until retirement I may have (be forced) to move. I have no problem waiting a year to place something in a tank, I plan on waiting a year to put a mandrian in.

Reef Goddess · 01-31-2008, 10:18 PM

Flower/rock anemones are very nice starter anemones that don't move at all once in a "happy" place. I've never had one get sucked into a pump unlike several bta anemones this has happened to. They like high light, moderate flow, and are one of the easiest anemones to keep. They are non-hosting. I'll try to get pics of my flower rock tonight.

sasquatch · 01-31-2008, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reef Goddess

Flower/rock anemones are very nice starter anemones that don't move at all once in a "happy" place. I've never had one get sucked into a pump unlike several bta anemones this has happened to. They like high light, moderate flow, and are one of the easiest anemones to keep. They are non-hosting. I'll try to get pics of my flower rock tonight.

BRILLIANT!!!!! gold stars for you!! what better anem for a first timer? I think they are very overlooked and some of them are beautiful, I have a beaded that appeared after the second year, I love it and its always happy, dosent care about light,food or flow

Frankie · 01-31-2008, 11:38 PM

I can hear boomer's alarm bells going off from that one. He loves these types of anemones. And Tube Anemones.

Reef Goddess · 02-01-2008, 12:31 AM

As promised, pics of my flowers. They've been together on this rock for over a year. The left orange one has been on this rock for at least 4 years and several tank moves.
The other two were small when I got them but my husband fed them for several months and now they are all about 4-4.5" across. We just wish they would split, hehe. They never move and are so easy to care for. Everyone that sees them loves them and who needs clownfish with anemones this pretty? ;]

I do realize that oranges are pretty much impossible to find nowadays, but I can get nice whites and greens still.

kathywithbirds · 02-01-2008, 12:40 AM

ooo pretty!

Hey hexabob, we're at about 8 years too! Mike's CG. He figures 3 more relocations.

I got me a great RBTA that I nursed from being stark white to it being a nice rosy brown color with that neat swirly line around its mouth (pats self on back yet again). It has not moved an inch from where I put it to begin with. I have two 150W MH in a sunpod, it's pretty darn happy about halfway up in the tank. Although right now the xenia are sneaking closer...

I was lucky too, my whole SW adventure started last spring, and I got this guy before the advisable "mature" date... but I'm very careful with him and he seems to appreciate it.

Reef Goddess · 02-01-2008, 12:48 AM

I would have recommended a bta, but I've kept lots in the past and they moved so much compared to other nems I've had. Some will stay in one spot and others will move a lot. I've found they don't move as much in smaller systems with good light. I had 3 beautiful ones in my old 180 and they would move from one side to the other daily.

Frankie · 02-01-2008, 09:44 AM

Very nice pictures Reef Goddess.

01-30-2008, 06:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hexabob Limpet Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chesapeake Virginia Posts: 129 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Thinking on an Anemone... I find these facinating creatures and really want one, but have heard horror stories about them fouling tank after going through pump. What if any precautions can you take to prevent this from happening? Another thing is that I understand that they are very mobile and sometimes knock the rocks around. And I guess lastly are they truly worth all the hassle if these things are true. I thought about putting them in the FOWLR I am going to be seeting up soon. Thanks in advance __________________ Dan My little Reef---> http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...t-attempt.html Soon a 72 Bow FOWLR and a 92 Corner Reef and later a 300+. If you find yourself wanting a vacation look no further that http://www.ytbtravel.com/hexabob we are your next generation travel bussiness.

01-30-2008, 06:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
BarbMazz Madame Klanganator Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Near Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 3,360 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Thinking on an Anemone... I would like to have one, too. I've been doing a lot of reading about them. Here's the first things that pop to mind from the reading I've done: 1. need a mature set up, and stable for about a year before considering anemone. 2. stock tank with anemone's comfort in mind as they are very sensitive 3. need high light (metal halides or a LOT of T5's) 4. need very high water quality, and good water movement and flow 5. need to be very, very careful what you keep coral-wise because of allelopathy (chemical warfare). I've found allelopathy a very worthy study! 6. pumps/powerheads/overflows need to be meshed over so anemone won't be sucked in. 7. larger tanks are way better than smaller tanks. 8. if you want a hosting relationship it's better for the anemone to be acclimated and introduced before the clowns. Several weeks or a couple of months will allow the anemone to establish and de-stress before they have the stress of the fish making themselves at home. 9. anemones can live decades. be sure to understand the commitment. 10. preferably one anemone species to a tank; they can and do split in good conditions. These usually will co-exist peacefully. I recommend Wetwebmedia, Aquarium, Pond, Marine and Freshwater Fish, reef tanks, and Aquatics Information for reading up on anemones. There's a wealth of information there! __________________ A Snail's Pace Beginning: an old lady's first reef http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...tml#post366161 ~not knowing how near the truth is we seek it far away~

01-30-2008, 06:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hexabob Limpet Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chesapeake Virginia Posts: 129 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Thinking on an Anemone... Thank you for the very informative answers. I to have read quite a few articles but wanted to be sure what I read was true, I mean that I have more faith in most of you folks after seeing some of your tanks that some blind faith article. As of today I have 8 more years in the Navy before I am qualified to retire. So maybe I should wait until I settle after all of that. So by large tank you mean that the 72 would be to small? Ok I can wait until I get the bigger one later this summer after I return. __________________ Dan My little Reef---> http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...t-attempt.html Soon a 72 Bow FOWLR and a 92 Corner Reef and later a 300+. If you find yourself wanting a vacation look no further that http://www.ytbtravel.com/hexabob we are your next generation travel bussiness.

01-30-2008, 06:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
framerguy Tridacna maxima Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Mount Airy, Ga Posts: 4,080 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Thinking on an Anemone... A 72 would be adequate. I don't know if you need to wait 8 YEARS!! though. Did you mean months? One year is long enough LOL. Anemones are very difficult to keep and that's speaking from experience, not a book. They can be very frustrating wandering around like they do. They hardly ever stay where you want them. Get some experience under your belt before getting one. __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 375gDT built in wall, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, 75 gallon mangrove/seagrass/mineral mud refugium, 55 gallon crushed coral/live rock refugium, algae turf scrubber, DIY calcium reactor, DIY kalkwasser mixer, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, etc, etc, etc... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/reef-chronicles/31882-akwareum-too.html

01-30-2008, 07:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
reefman420 Elegance coral Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: minneapolis Posts: 1,085 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Thinking on an Anemone... everything said here is true,they are very hi light animals,metal halide or t5,And they can foul a tank pretty bad even if they just decompose in the water,That being said i have two,A rbta,and a seabae and they are doing great __________________ 155 oceanic bow front,20 long refuge packed with caluerpa and mangroves,40 gallon sump,175lbs LR,3x250 watt xm 10ks,aqua-c remora,and pro-clear 150 skimmers sailfin tang,kole tang,royal gramma,cinnimon clown,2xpink skunk clowns,six line wrasse,mandarin, 155 bow coral-orange montipora cap,superman monti cap,scripps green polyped staghorn,ORA pink poccilipora,ORA blue millipora,green slimer,yellow UK acro,pink birdsnest,armor of god zoas,various zoas and shrooms,hammer,frogspawn,clove polyps,favite,fancey toadstool,reg toadstool,yellow leather,purple leather,devils hand,2 types xenia,ricordea florida,ricordea yuma,kenya tree,galaxia,bubble coral,button polyps inverts are lots of snails and hermits,crocea clam,maxima clam and seabae anemone,rbta

01-30-2008, 07:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
Hexabob Limpet Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chesapeake Virginia Posts: 129 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Thinking on an Anemone... No 8 years until I will totally settle. Until retirement I may have (be forced) to move. I have no problem waiting a year to place something in a tank, I plan on waiting a year to put a mandrian in. __________________ Dan My little Reef---> http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...t-attempt.html Soon a 72 Bow FOWLR and a 92 Corner Reef and later a 300+. If you find yourself wanting a vacation look no further that http://www.ytbtravel.com/hexabob we are your next generation travel bussiness.

01-31-2008, 10:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Reef Goddess Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Coral Gables, FL Posts: 169 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Thinking on an Anemone... Flower/rock anemones are very nice starter anemones that don't move at all once in a "happy" place. I've never had one get sucked into a pump unlike several bta anemones this has happened to. They like high light, moderate flow, and are one of the easiest anemones to keep. They are non-hosting. I'll try to get pics of my flower rock tonight. __________________ REEFGARDENER.NET The only place you ever need to visit!!

02-01-2008, 12:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
Reef Goddess Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Coral Gables, FL Posts: 169 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Thinking on an Anemone... As promised, pics of my flowers. They've been together on this rock for over a year. The left orange one has been on this rock for at least 4 years and several tank moves. The other two were small when I got them but my husband fed them for several months and now they are all about 4-4.5" across. We just wish they would split, hehe. They never move and are so easy to care for. Everyone that sees them loves them and who needs clownfish with anemones this pretty? ;] I do realize that oranges are pretty much impossible to find nowadays, but I can get nice whites and greens still. __________________ REEFGARDENER.NET The only place you ever need to visit!!

02-01-2008, 12:40 AM	#13 (permalink)
kathywithbirds Social Darwinism victim Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Hood, NJ Posts: 5,847 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Thinking on an Anemone... ooo pretty! Hey hexabob, we're at about 8 years too! Mike's CG. He figures 3 more relocations. I got me a great RBTA that I nursed from being stark white to it being a nice rosy brown color with that neat swirly line around its mouth (pats self on back yet again). It has not moved an inch from where I put it to begin with. I have two 150W MH in a sunpod, it's pretty darn happy about halfway up in the tank. Although right now the xenia are sneaking closer... I was lucky too, my whole SW adventure started last spring, and I got this guy before the advisable "mature" date... but I'm very careful with him and he seems to appreciate it. __________________ (\_/) (\__/) ( . .) (^.^) (")(") (> <) Bunny and Bunnina have worked things out. Bunny was mistaken after all, Bunnina was not having an affair. "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." ~Lin Yutang

02-01-2008, 12:48 AM	#14 (permalink)
Reef Goddess Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Coral Gables, FL Posts: 169 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Thinking on an Anemone... I would have recommended a bta, but I've kept lots in the past and they moved so much compared to other nems I've had. Some will stay in one spot and others will move a lot. I've found they don't move as much in smaller systems with good light. I had 3 beautiful ones in my old 180 and they would move from one side to the other daily. __________________ REEFGARDENER.NET The only place you ever need to visit!!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)